“Working in Antartica” presented by Paul Alfillé

Please join usfor a special presentation by Dr. Paul H. Alfille: “Working in Antarctica.” The gallery will be open for the event on Sunday, June 23 from 3-5 pm and refreshments will be served. (RSVP Info Below)

an Antarctic Weddell Seal, photo by Paul Alfille

While the Antarctic has become a sought- after destination for visitors in quest of a new and uncommon experience, the travelers on cruises only get to visit the most accessible edge of the continent, at the tip of the Antarctic peninsula, and that for a relatively short time.

Working at one of the Antarctic research bases, however, is a much different experience. Paul Alfille, now Division Chief of Thoracic, Vascular and Neuro Anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School , was a medical student when he was tapped to be part of a medical research expedition at McMurdo Bay, the U.S. Antarctic base, situated relatively close to the South Pole.

His stunning photographs, which he will present along with stories of day-to-day life on the base, depict his experiences and that of the team headed by Prof. W. Zapol, a former speaker to The Pearl Society. The assignment was to research Weddell seals, huge mammals who can dive and stay underwater for more than an hour. Because of this research, newborn “blue” babies in hospitals everywhere can now be helped. “But first, you have to catch the seal. . . ” The photos tell the tale, and many others.

Paul Alfillé approaches a Weddell Seal

After Paul Alfille, my son, spent that austral summer in Antarctica, his pictures revealed to me a universe of beauty and tragedy. The thought has been with me since, and has inspired the special jewelry series: Voyage to Antarctica.

Published by williamguth

I currently work at Northwestern University as an Instructional Technologist. Working with faculty and other staff I build online classes in the School of Professional Studies, and support students and faculty with troubleshooting errors and technologies online.
My undying love of computers, photography, and graphics/video production are driving many of my career path decisions and I like the direction I'm headed in.
Please join me on my journey of self-discovery as I interact with the world we live in, and try both to understand it all, and make it a better place.
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